Nelton Court Youths Score An Olympic Victory

If there's a secret to the athletic prowess of the youths at Nelton Court, Lillian Gloria Smith, president of the neighborhood's tenant association, isn't talking.

``I don't really know the answer,'' said Smith, who helped organize the track team that won the 12th Annual Junior Olympics at Weaver High School Saturday. ``Maybe it's love.''

For the eighth time in 12 years the Nelton Court team scored more points than teams from eight other housing neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood Pride track meet was sponsored by the city housing authority. It featured more than 150 youths ages 6 to 18, competing in seven events: the 50-meter, 75-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter, 4 x 100-meter relay, shot put and long jump.

``There's a lot of great competition out here today,'' said Brian Bryant, one of the judges. ``A lot of these kids are really skilled.''

Nelton Court was led by Janeiro Gonzalez, 10, who accumulated the most points in his four events, including the 50-meter and 75-meter race, long jump and 4 x 100 relay race.

Having won the meet in the past may have motivated some of the youths to want to win the top prize again, Smith said. But as far as training, the only practice the Nelton Court team did was competing in a few neighborhood races a couple of days before the meet.

``There's a lot of potential out there,'' said Walter ``Doc'' Hurley, one of the afternoon's spectators. He is a former vice principal at Weaver High School and longtime advocate of scholastic sports programs. ``There could be some Olympic hopefuls.''

Naikia Upshaw, 10, who represented Bellevue Square, nervously rocked back and fourth while standing at the starting line waiting for the second heat of her 75-meter race to start.

After a child was removed from the track, another runner needed extra time to tie her sneaker.

Then the starter's gun jammed.

Naikia, who went on to win the heat, said she trained for weeks by running on the Wish School playground and in front of her house.

For scoring the most points, Nelton Court received the winner's trophy, a silver Revere bowl that will be placed in the housing neighborhood's community center.

The track meet is designed to promote neighborhood pride and to get youths from different neighborhood to meet each other for a positive experience, said Otis Thomas, youth coordinator for the housing authority.

``It's about having pride for yourself and your neighborhood,'' Thomas said.